Being involved in a sporting club is never uneventful and conflict is inevitable in the competitive environment of sport. From time to time issues arise, for example - over decisions about membership and selection and about the behaviour of members and personnel. Many of these problems can be ‘nipped in the bud’ if they are responded to when they first arise. However it is known that the longer an issue is left unattended the harder it is to resolve and the more likely it will develop into a formal complaint.
Issues need to be addressed and everyone – administrators, coaches, officials, players and parents – has a role to play in doing so. Ideally, the response will help create an inclusive, safe, fair and respectful environment, particularly for children.
This section provides information on commonly occurring issues in sport including what the law says about the matter, and provides practical ideas by your role (e.g., coach) about ‘what to do now’ and ‘what to do next’.
Select your issue:
•Age restrictions in sport
•Angry parents
•Bullying
•Cultural differences
•Disability Inclusion
•Girls playing in boys teams
•Homophobia and sexuality discrimination
•Intimate relationships
•Infectious diseases
•Physical contact with children
•Pregnancy and participation
•Religious inclusion
•Sex discrimination
•Team selection – juniors
•Team selection - adults
•Racial discrimination and vilification
•Sexual harassment
•Verbally abusive coach
Sport plays a big part in many people’s lives whether they’re participants, observers or club members. Today risk management is an accepted part of sport administration and clubs and associations need to have strategies in place to meet legal and insurance requirements. One of the principal risks they need to address relates to club member behaviour and the potential for discrimination, harassment and child abuse.
By taking a broad approach to risk management and creating positive and inclusive clubs, administrators can minimise the risks and maximise the benefits associated with their sport (e.g. increased participation). Everyone is responsible for contributing to this environment.
This section provides information on managing risks for:
Sport should be a place where you enjoy yourself, develop friendships and have fun. It’s not a place where you should be subjected to discrimination, harassment or abuse. If this behaviour occurs, you have every right to make a complaint.
Most state sporting organisations have policies and procedures for dealing with complaints (e.g., Member Protection policy) which include the following options:
•trying to sort the matter out yourself;
•informal discussions with the other party;
•mediation;
•lodging a formal written complaint at the level the incident occurred;
•appealing to the next level if you believe the outcome was; biased, you have been denied natural justice or the process didn’t follow your sport’s procedures;
•referring or lodging a complaint with an external authority (e.g. police, child protection or anti-discrimination agency).
Generally you have a choice in how you would like your complaint dealt with. In some cases though, the club may have a duty of care and be required to act, irrespective of how you would like the complaint handled (e.g. if a child is believed at risk of harm).
Check your sport’s policies or contact your club President or Member Protection Information Officer to find out about the options available to you.
This section provides general information about:
◦Where to complain
◦What to expect
◦Where to get help
Sporting clubs and organisations are governed by both internal and external laws. Sports internal laws include their constitution, rules, by-laws and other policies and procedures. External laws are governed by rules and standards of behaviour for the wider community and exist in the forms of statues and the common law. The issues of discrimination, harassment, abuse and assault enter into both of these arenas.
This section provides information on:
•Discrimination
•Child protection
•Criminal behaviour - physical and sexual assault
•Legal rights and responsibilities
A new community service announcement video produced by Play by the Rules, which features some of Australia’s elite sportsmen and women, has been launched to promote messages around safe, fair and inclusive sport for all.
To see the video click here;http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_aogZApvc
The video features messages from a range of stars across various sports, including: Liz Ellis (former captain of the Australian netball team and current sports media commentator), Petero Civoniceva (Penrith Panthers NRL and QLD State of Origin legend), David Pocock (member of the Australian Wallabies rugby union team), Kyah Simon (member of the Matildas Australian women’s soccer team), Preston Campbell (Gold Coast Titans NRL player and NRL Indigenous Ambassador), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans AFL player) and Adam Ashley-Cooper (member of the Australian Wallabies rugby union team).
Play by the Rules Co-chair and new federal Race Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Helen Szoke, said: “As we gear up for the NRL/AFL finals, the Rugby World Cup and the Matildas playing for Olympic qualification, it is the perfect time for our sport stars to reinforce a clear message to everyone involved in sport, from the professional to grassroots level, that it should be fun, fair and inclusive”.
